Improved Anvil

Thrifalas · Post by **Thrifalas** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:47 pm

Anyone here who has played it? I was just planning a 2-char playthrough with no XP cap with all mods I could find that increased the epicness of both myself and the enemy (Ascension, Tactics, EoU, IU, Solaufein, Valen) and I ran into something called Improved Anvil.

I thought about installing it on top of everything else, but it looks like this mod has everything in it. Epic items (Crazy, CRAZY items), improved fights, new classes and everything in between. So I scrapped the 2-char plan and decided to embark on what I hope will be one of the most epic adventures yet!

So, I'm interested in hearing if anyone have played through this mod before and I'm interested in hearing what the difficulty level of this one is on. I hear that it is one of the hardest yet, which I am looking forward to.

My current skill level is just above ascension/tactics - they are fairly easy even with low xp, bad equipment and no cheese, but I can't say that I can beat them as easily as I would like to.

Also, I would like to encourage more players to take up the mod, if you feel that your skill level match mine or is close. It would be fun to play through the mod simultaneously with other players and share experiences.

So, who's up for the a playthrough to be remembered, and who has already had the fun? ^^

Crenshinibon · Post by **Crenshinibon** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 12:20 am

The difficulty level is pretty hard, but not impossible. You can solve anything with a few reloads if you need them. I went through with a blade.

The does add some classes, but nothing too impressive in my opinion. Note that the experience tables are completely revamped. I remember that an autosave had a character as level nine or so, and when I uninstalled the mod, the character leveled to fifteen.

The Irenicus and Demogorgon battles however, are easier than in The Banned One's mod and also does not include the planetar regeneration fix. Even then, IA is fun, though it's impossible to get all of the items as you have to decide on what component to use for what item and of course there are some alignment/class restrictions towards the items.

Also, the loot and some spawns are randomized, so that adds some flare.

The mod does have problems with uninstallation and leaves some of its' components, namely the high level abilities, in the game.

Thrifalas · Post by **Thrifalas** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 5:05 pm

Thanks for the post. How much harder would you say the battles are than say, battles such as Eclipse, UD sola, Ascension final and those battles that are generally considered though to beat the first times around?

Klorox · Post by **Klorox** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:16 am

Isn't IA the one that heavily recommends using at least 5 characters? I believe I read that without 5 or 6 the balance will be upset for you.

Crenshinibon · Post by **Crenshinibon** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 3:44 pm

It is, but it's still just as difficult with one, if not more. Also, some bugs have been disabled, such as the "talk before attacking" bug. Of those, I have only tried Ascension and personally think that it doesn't even closely compare to the difficult of IA. It even puts the tactics mod to shame.

Saros · Post by **Saros** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:14 pm

The Anvil mod 5.0. is tough, but absolutely possible to beat with a powerful solo. I have done it with a F/M/T no-reload insane, and it can be done with a F/I almost as easy.

Tried it with a powerful solo sorceress, however due to the lack of Simulacrum and Projected Image spells, this got me nowhere.

I have played Tactics little. But from what I hear, although the Anvil is harder, it's not *that* much harder, simply different. It's definitely harder than Ascension - for instance, Ascension IS soloable with any class character, while IA is definitely not.

@ Thrifalas: Keep in mind that some items may never be forged or found unless your Protagonist meets the requirements needed, although some of them may be used with Use Any Item HLA. I have recently installed (and played) the only one compatible with IA mod - 'the Four' mod, which adds 4 powerful, but cursed items, guarded by powerful Anvil monsters.

If you really want a powerful 2-player party, I suggest that your 2nd character is a Blade (best to be neutral), and the first is some kind of powerful arcane caster - a Sorcerer (evil if you have The Four mod installed, or neutral, NEVER good or you will have issues with enemy Dark Planetars/Fallen Devas and their Unholy Words), or a Necromancer (again, evil or neutral), a F/I, F/M/T or F/M/C - all are good choices. I would advise as the most lethal party to be an evil Sorcerer and a neutral Blade, with 'The Four' installed, since both spellcasters will have permanent Improved Alacrity at their disposal soon enough, and with the Sorcerer's Wishes and Spell Trap, your rest is ensured even in the thick of combat. Of course, since you've never played the IA, you need to know the Sorcerer's spell picks. If you want some advice (and you decide to play with such a team), then write and I will give my list of the IA spell picks.

Crenshinibon wrote:The difficulty level is pretty hard, but not impossible. You can solve anything with a few reloads if you need them. I went through with a blade.

Really? Solo? What version of the IA mod are we talking about, 5.0.?

Crenshinibon · Post by **Crenshinibon** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:02 pm

I played the third version.

Saros · Post by **Saros** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 1:24 am

Well, I've soloed a Blade through the SoA part of the IA 5.0., and it was doable. It's the Epic Divine Encounter which troubles me, but I guess that IA 5.0. is harder than 3.0.

Thrifalas · Post by **Thrifalas** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 1:32 am

Hehe, Saros, are you sarow_shadow_follower? I am Hidd on the improved anvil forum, hehe.

Guess it's softer to speak here.

I'll prolly solo it instead due to the increased experience thingie. Going for a grandfather of assassins and I hope that solaufein mod is compatible with IA. I recently found out that dual-wielding two eclipse blades with haste gives you a regen of 12 hp/second. And tactics ofc, I don't care how many items they install in IA, Sanchuudoku is still the cheesiest weapon out there. x]

Saros · Post by **Saros** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 1:49 am

For what I know, no mod except 'The four' from the Sorcerer's place is compatible with Improved Anvil and you will have bugs and probably crashes at one point or another, sooner or later. I haven't tried it myself though. The non-Anvil items may do the same. If you want to experience the IA mod itself, I suggest following the installation in the readme file. I assure you, the number of the powerful IA items is significant, but not only that - if you have a +4 or +5 weapon too early in the game, it may destroy the Anvil's balance.

Also, it is required to start a new game after you've made a proper Anvil installation - and this is the only way to have an almost bug-free Anvil install. Otherwise, you will most certainly encounter a problem which not even Sikret, the mod's creator, will be able to help with, even if he wants to.

Thrifalas · Post by **Thrifalas** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 2:37 am

You didn't answer my question about the BioWare forum.

I've already tried the mod with some items, it seems to work fine. And I can't imagine how fights like eclipse or kuroisan can disturb the IA mod, these mod's doesn't really change any areas, quests or scriptings.

I am not really interested in the Anvil's balance - if I were, I'd play it with a full house rather than solo it. I'm just interested in a fun solo playthrough with some new and exciting challenges.

Saros · Post by **Saros** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 5:19 am

Yep, that's my nickname on the Bioware forum.

As for the mods and items - I surely hope you have no troubles with them. I'm unfamiliar with the principles of programming. But there are several complaints on the BWL forum from people who use other mods in addition to Improved Anvil - and there are very strange and unpleasant things happening in their games, which no one can help with.

Thrifalas · Post by **Thrifalas** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 2:10 am

I decided to quit IA alltogether. From reading more reviews of it, it doesn't seem like my cup of tea. The game is definitely so heavily tweaked that it doesn't seem like the old game anymore - spells removed, all items reworked, etc.

It would've been fine if it had been a total remake OR a tremendously difficult mod. But I can't have it both at the same time, I simply do not have time for it. I was looking for a few good challenges, similar to or harder than tactics/ascension/elipse, but I have slowly come to realize that this mod is not what I am looking for.

To put it simple, if I am to fight against a Rakshasa God I want my Simulacrums, I want my experience tables untouched, I want UAI to actually grant me the ability to use any item and I want my frikkin' robe of Vecna to have its original bonus to casting time.

If I had a two-week vacation and a far more burning interest for BG2 than I have, then I might've played this mod. But I don't think that'll ever happen, so I'm back to kicking The Five and the Eclipse Party.

Thanks for your answer though, and if anyone knows of a mod that improves fights but do not totally revamp the game, let me know.

Cippa Lippa · Post by **Cippa Lippa** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:56 am

Thrifalas wrote:I decided to quit IA alltogether. From reading more reviews of it, it doesn't seem like my cup of tea. The game is definitely so heavily tweaked that it doesn't seem like the old game anymore - spells removed, all items reworked, etc.

It would've been fine if it had been a total remake OR a tremendously difficult mod. But I can't have it both at the same time, I simply do not have time for it. I was looking for a few good challenges, similar to or harder than tactics/ascension/elipse, but I have slowly come to realize that this mod is not what I am looking for.

To put it simple, if I am to fight against a Rakshasa God I want my Simulacrums, I want my experience tables untouched, I want UAI to actually grant me the ability to use any item and I want my frikkin' robe of Vecna to have its original bonus to casting time.

If I had a two-week vacation and a far more burning interest for BG2 than I have, then I might've played this mod. But I don't think that'll ever happen, so I'm back to kicking The Five and the Eclipse Party. Thanks for your answer though, and if anyone knows of a mod that improves fights but do not totally revamp the game, let me know.

I am actually having the same concerns... I don't understand how they can say that IA doesn't use cheese when they have robes that give THREE extra spells per level or an armor that gives PERMANENT alacrity.... I mean, come on... I am a powergamer but that seems extreme even to me... Or like I have read that most big monsters are almost completely immune to some mele damage... I mean... that sounds a bit over the top.

But I might be missing something...